Rich Paul believes the Lakers’ playoff win over Houston convinced LeBron James to postpone retirement and continue his NBA career.
LeBron James’ performance during the Los Angeles Lakers’ first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets may have changed the direction of his career.
LeBron James
Position SF
Age 41
Height 206 cm
Weight 113 kg
Birth place Akron, United States of America
According to his longtime agent Rich Paul, the Lakers’ ability to eliminate Houston without injured superstar Luka Doncic gave James renewed belief that he could continue competing at the highest level.
“That series, in my opinion, convinced him to keep playing,” Paul said on the Game Over podcast. “I think if they somehow got swept or lost 4-1 in that series, it could be different. I think that gave us another ride.”
LeBron led short-handed Lakers past Houston
The Lakers entered the matchup as underdogs after losing Doncic for the entire series, while Austin Reaves was limited to only two appearances.
Despite those absences, Los Angeles defeated Houston 4-2 and reached the Western Conference semifinals for the first time since 2023. James led the Lakers with averages of 23.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 8.3 assists over six games.
The four-time NBA MVP saved one of his best performances for the decisive Game 6, recording 28 points as the Lakers held the Rockets to a season-low scoring total in a convincing 98-78 victory.
Los Angeles’ postseason run ended in the following round, where the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder completed a four-game sweep. James finished the final game of his 23rd NBA season with 24 points and 12 rebounds.
The 41-year-old had not committed to another season immediately after the elimination, leaving retirement as a realistic possibility.
However, Paul believes the resilience James and the short-handed Lakers showed against Houston ultimately provided the motivation for at least one more NBA campaign.
James joins loaded 76ers core
James will continue his career in Philadelphia after choosing the 76ers over several other championship contenders.
The move places him alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, and VJ Edgecombe, giving Philadelphia one of the NBA's most talented groups.
The 76ers acquired Brown from the Boston Celtics earlier this offseason, adding the five-time All-Star to a core already led by Embiid and Maxey.
James' playmaking could reduce the offensive burden on Philadelphia's other stars, while Brown and Maxey would provide athleticism and scoring around him.
His existing relationship with Embiid, whom he played alongside with Team USA, also offers Philadelphia another experienced superstar partnership.
James had previously attracted speculation about Philadelphia after using his familiar "trust the process" phrase, although he has used the expression throughout his career.
His decision transforms the Sixers into one of the Eastern Conference's most closely watched teams and raises expectations of an immediate championship push.
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